The Hon Phil Edman MLC, Member for South Metropolitan Region, is pleased to report that the Minister for Transport, the Hon Dean Nalder MLA, has approved measures to improve awareness for boat users of the HMAS Stirling exclusion zones around Garden Island.

The Farrawa Cup Series concluded with the 67th Bunbury and Return Ocean Race over the weekend of 17-18 January. Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club is proud to host the annual event, WA’s oldest blue water event. The 169 nautical mile race is rewarding and challenging and a highlight of the WA offshore season.

WA’s offshore fleet was blessed with ideal conditions for the two-day Rockingham Race Weekend off the coast of Perth, WA. Hosted by Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, the event is part of the Farrawa Cup Series.

In 2000 YWARRC answered a question from an offshore skipper regarding legal/illegal methods of removing weed from keels while racing. A copy of the answer is published on page 23 of the current YWA Offshore Handbook.

YWARRC advised: “However using a halyard, harness, hobbles etc. to help project or lower a crewmember overboard would break rule 49.1 as this would be considered ‘a device designed to position their bodies overboard’.”

Vale
Vice Patron Bruce Campbell OAM
Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club is sad to acknowledge the passing of Vice Patron Bruce Campbell OAM. Bruce was a member of Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club for 51 years since joining in 1963.

Neptune Racing is back on the podium after a small lull at events in France and Russia, with a third place finish in the Chicago Grand Slam! This event saw a particularly high ranked field including 5 teams who are ranked inside the top 20 in the world.

After 3 days of next to no wind on a small lake in the middle of Russia Team Gilmour managed overcome the light and shifty conditions to take the win in a white wash final against Eugeniy Neugodnikov from Russia.

Our Club members are spread across the globe representing RFBYC! Neptune Racing was in Helsinki and is traveling to France, Conor Nicholas is in Dziwnow, Poland. Liam and Cameron Seagreen are in Cork, Canada.Team Gilmour is in Sopot, Poland.

Congratulations to Tristan Brown for his first place in Europa Cup Poland 2014. Tristan is the back-to-back Laser Radial World Champion, he is preparing to compete in The Laser Radial Men’s World Championships in Poland.

Exciting news from Newport Beach, California, as we’ve just managed to take out the Governor’s Cup! Five days of racing resulted in a final showdown between Neptune Racing (representing Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club) and San Diego Yacht Club (SDYC), skippered by Nevin Snow.

Holding ready at the same location, Neptune Racing hit the water for the second week at Lago di Ledro, this time though contesting the OM Match Cup (Grade 2), a higher graded regatta than the World University Championships, putting many more ranking points at stake.

Enthusiasm for the 2015 Fremantle to Bali Race and Rally is high with expressions of interest already being lodged by boat owners even before the ink has dried on posters announcing the 2015 timing of Australia’s most exciting blue water race and rally.

Team Gilmour recently competed in Stena Match Cup Sweden, the second event in the 2014 Alpari World Match Racing Tour.
Picture: Team Gimour about to round inside Bjorn Hansen on day 4 of the qualifying roud in 20+ knots. Photo credit: Dan Ljungsvik/SMCS.
Read on for the full article….

The 2014 JESS Team’s third newsletter starts at the 29er German Nationals and covers their last of their JESS Tour, including training in Kiel, sight seeing, an adventure trip to Denmark and the verdict for the JESS 2014 Masterchef Competition.

Members are reminded of the availability of the facilities at the Royal Thames Yacht Club. A warm welcome awaits members at their Clubhouse which is conveniently located in Knightsbridge, overlooking Hyde Park.

Their second newsletter begins with the final day of racing at the ‘YES’ Regatta in Kiel. They enjoyed some adventures in and around Kiel and then began their second event, the 29er German Nationals in Eckernforde.

Congratulations to 420 Sailors Emerson Carlberg & Lachy Gilmour (WAIS) and Laser Radial sailor, Alistair Young who have been selected to represent Australia at the ISAF World Youth Sailing Championships in Portugal later this year.

Also well done to Zoe Thompson who was placed 1st Female in the Laser 4.7 Class and Max Giudice & Hayden Hunt for their 3rd placing in the 29er Class.

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club (RFBYC) in Peppermint Grove has been awarded ‘Fish Friendly’ accreditation – the first marina in Western Australia to be certified with this status as part of the International Clean Marina program coordinated by the Marina Industries Association (MIA).

Seventeen Mirrors contested the first heat of the 2013-14 State Championships at Maylands Yacht Club on Sunday 17th October. The warm weather was a welcome change but the very light conditions in the morning made for an interesting first race.

RFBYC members, Sam Gilmour and his crew of Adam Negri, Cameron Seagreen and Mark Spearman (supported by UWA Sailing) have won the Australian Youth Match Racing Championship after four days of tense competition. Well done boys, fantastic effort. We wish Sam and his crew all the best in the upcoming UWA Games.

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club’s second Sea Safety Expo attracted nearly 200 boating people from all over the metropolitan area, taking part in flare demonstrations, listening to expert speakers on a variety of topics, and watching a Police Helicopter team winching volunteers from the Swan River…… read more

Sam Gilmour is the highest ranked skipper for this regatta and is in top form after his second place in the Australian Match Racing Championship earlier in the week. Gilmour, who represents the Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club, has a slightly different crew for this regatta that includes Adam Negri, Cameron Seagreen and Mark Spearman.

Congratulations to Team Gilmour who tasted sweet victory in Middelfart, Denmark at the ISAF Nations Cup in a whitewash final series against local hero Nicolai Sehested. Team Gilmour consisting of David Gilmour, Peter Nicholas, Luke Payne, Alistair Marchesi & Ed Powys defeated the Danes 3 to 0 in the best of 5 final in what was an emphatic victory.

Congratulations to Team Gilmour who tasted sweet victory in Middelfart, Denmark at the ISAF Nations Cup in a whitewash final series against local hero Nicolai Sehested. Team Gilmour consisting of David Gilmour, Peter Nicholas, Luke Payne, Alistair Marchesi & Ed Powys defeated the Danes 3 to 0 in the best of 5 final in what was an emphatic victory.

Less than two weeks ago Team Gilmour received a wildcard entry to compete in the prestigious ISAF Nations Cup in Middelfart, Denmark. Many champions of the sport have won the Nations Cup including 2007 Americas Cup winning helmsman Ed Baird. Team Gilmour is excited to be racing against some of the best match racers in the world. Up to 12 countries will be represented at the event; Australia, Singapore, Denmark, Norway, Canada, France, Brazil, Great Britain, Japan, Norway, Sweden and USA.

A weekly wrap-up on local, national & international sailing with interviews, roving reports and information on a range of interesting and useful sailing topics hosted by Ed Fethers and RFBYC Club Member, Manfred Speicher.

Junior Members Carrie Smith and Ella Clark were prepared for a last day fight for the gold after coming off the water at the ISAF Youth Sailing Worlds. The girls started the day behind the leading Italian crew in the 420 class.

Valmadre Cup event, held on Saturday 6 July 2013, consisted of two windward and return races off Leighton Beach in flat water and a perfect sailing breeze that began at around eight knots and built to around 12 during the second race.

Neptune Racing is a match racing team sailing with the RFBYC Youth Squad, based in Perth. With a current ranking of 75, things are beginning to come together for the team. The team is skippered by Sam Gilmour (19) and crew members include Adam Negri (19) and Christopher Smith (20). We’ve just competed in our first Grade 2 event, at the CMRC in Chicago, and have taken a huge amount from it.

RFBYC entered two teams for this event sailed in the Foundation 36 yachts from Swan River Sailing. The skippers were Adele Jackson – the defending champion – and Sandy Anderson. Adele’s team was made up from experienced members of RFBYC and Sandy’s team had a core of experienced crew with the novice ladies twilight sailors rotating in the crew. A great experience for them and a big learning curve!

Club member Tony Mitchell’s chartered 27.4 metre, canting keel super maxi, Super Sled has taken over 5 hours off the course record for the Fremantle to Bali Race. Finishing in a time of 5 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 24 seconds, Super Sled sailed through the finishing line just of Benoa just before midday today, Friday 10 May 2013.

Wonderful Indonesia Fremantle to Bali Race & Rally 2013, WA’s only international race and rally was established in 1981. Race and rally set sail Saturday May 4 2013 from Fremantle Harbour with General Lee and Super Sled representing RFBYC

The crew of Hoodoo Man enjoyed a fanastic weekend at the Rottnest Foundation Festival of Sail over the weekend of 13 &14 April 2013, writes Craig Carter.

Building on the previous two years, it once again lived up to its reputation as one of the most enjoyable events on the sailing calendar with most participants recognising 2013 as the best festival yet.

A hastily convened team showed a clean pair of heels to their rivals in the Inter Club Championships last weekend. Hosted by Mounts Bay Sailing Club and run by Swan River Sailing, the Freshie team beat off competition from Royal Perth Yacht Club, South of Perth Yacht Club, Mounts Bay Sailing Club, East Fremantle Yacht Club and Fremantle Sailing Club.

The Australian O’Pen Bic Cup at Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club was won by Sean Herbert of Manly Sailing Club, New Zealand with Chris Gallen second, and Oliver Medd third, both of Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club.

Congratulations to the many dinghy sailors who represented the Club in recent State Championship Regattas. Freshie sailors once again featured prominently taking out 1st place in the Contender, 29er, O’pen BIC, Mirror, 420 and Laser Radial Classes.

RFBYC was well represented at last weekend’s RPYC Mini Series. We were fortunate to have our Coaching Development Officer, Grant Alderson, assisted by Alex Zimmerman out on the water to provide coaching tips throughout the weekend.

David Gilmour and his team finished the job they could not complete last year, to bring home the Warren Jones International Youth Match Racing Regatta Trophy, defeating fellow Club Member Tristan Brown in the finals, three wins to one.

Outstanding performances from our sailors at the OAMPS Youth National Championships has resulted with gold medal placings to Lachy Gilmour & Tom Blaauw in the 420 Class and Mark Spearman in the Laser Radial Class today in Hobart.

Congratulations to our newest National Champions, Lachy Gilmour & Tom Blaauw in the 420 Class and Tristan Brown in the Laser Radial Class. Sailors competing in the Laser, 420 & Mirror National Championships have all been challenged by the cold, wet, 25 knot+ winds and blustery weather conditions of Hobart over the last week. A stark contrast to weather back home!

RFBYC hosted the annual Dinghy race series – the International Classes Regatta on 1 & 2 December. This year’s regatta was the biggest ICR in recent years with over 168 entries and 209 competitors descending on the Dinghy Club lawn for the two-day event.

Royal Freshwater Bay Yacht Club’s premier dinghy event, the International Classes Regatta will be held this weekend with over 150 boats registered (equating to just under 200 competitors) and more than 50 volunteers.